Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: One Day Until the Demonus Weakening Operation
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One day remained until the Demonus weakening operation.
Ten powerhouse nations had assembled at the GHO Italian branch for deployment in the operation: Spain, China, the United States, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Brazil.
Finally, the representative teams from South Korea arrived to complete the lineup.
And now, the leaders of those representative teams had gathered.
Pamellino, the director of the Italian branch, stepped forward to brief them on the Demonus weakening operation.
"Greetings. I'm Pamellino, director of the Italian branch. Thank you again for your assistance."
Even in such a high position, Pamellino bowed deeply to the team leaders.
The leaders responded in their own ways to Pamellino's gesture.
"At least the director knows his stuff."
Some leaders took Pamellino's sincere gratitude as a given.
"No need to thank us. It's only natural."
Others insisted it was just what needed to be done, no thanks required.
And then there were a few.
"We should be the ones thanking you for your efforts."
Who expressed their own gratitude right back to Pamellino.
Pamellino flashed a bright smile at those leaders as she ascended the podium.
"I'm grateful that so many top-ranked S-Rank Hunters from around the world have joined us for this weakening operation. Seeing you all in person gives me even more confidence than any report ever could."
As she spoke, Pamellino's gaze swept from South Korea on the far left, all the way to Spain on the far right.
South Korea's Yong-un.
Spain's War God.
The disciple of England's Mercenary King.
And finally, America's Strike Dragon, who had slipped to 11th in the rankings but still wielded power no one could ignore.
No fewer than four such powerhouses had committed to this Demonus weakening operation.
Just looking at them inspired confidence.
Pamellino clenched her fist without realizing it as she regarded them.
'This is the result of one person's efforts.'
The gazes of those powerhouses subtly converged on one spot as her eyes passed over them.
The ability of that single individual to draw in so many elites.
At the end of Pamellino's sweep sat Yong-un.
Impressive, wasn't it?
To wield such immense influence over the world's strongest at such a young age.
That was precisely why Pamellino had gone so far as to gift Yong-un and make her request.
Their participation would mean fewer deaths inside the Demonus—ones she was responsible for managing.
'Even if it's not entirely for the San Marino Demonus.'
Even if it was just part of their plan to gauge and check Yong-un's true worth.
It would still reduce casualties in this weakening operation.
"With that, let's begin the briefing."
Pamellino started the briefing, a hopeful smile on her lips.
The Demonus weakening operation briefing wasn't just a simple presentation.
It was a meeting to devise the strategy on the spot.
Over two hours passed.
The massive, pristine map of the San Marino Demonus at the center of the conference room was now crisscrossed with lines.
And beside those lines, priorities from 1 to 10 were marked.
1st Priority - Spain, South Korea (25%) - 50%
2nd Priority - United Kingdom (12%)
3rd Priority - United States (10%)
4th Priority - China (9%)
5th Priority - Japan (8%)
Last - Russia, France, Canada, Brazil (11%)
"That concludes the strategy meeting."
Pamellino turned off the microphone with a serious expression.
Afterward, she stared for a long time at the lines on the San Marino Demonus map—and the contribution percentages.
Among all those lines, two dominated the largest areas.
She gazed intently at Spain and South Korea, her face etched with worry.
'Will they be okay?'
It was shocking.
Demonus weakening operations were ones major powers typically avoided.
That's why the deployed nations always tried to minimize their contributions.
To protect their own Hunters from casualties.
'But this Demonus weakening operation is different.'
The rivalry—not quite a rivalry—sparked by the War God and Yong-un.
It wasn't the usual contest to shave off contributions.
It was a race to claim more.
And the results were absurd numbers.
'Unprecedented.'
Two nations claiming half of the San Marino Demonus.
Out of ten countries, two taking 50 percent—an bizarre phenomenon.
The one who had transformed this dreaded operation.
Pamellino's eyes fixed once more on Yong-un.
"Thank you. Truly... thank you so much."
"You sure about this?"
The world's number one ranked S-Rank, the War God.
He burst into hearty laughter toward Yong-un.
"Kahahahaha!"
Yong-un smirked mockingly back at him.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Yong-un's eyes turned to the map.
Originally, both Spain and South Korea should have been at 22 percent contributions.
The bump to 25 percent was entirely Yong-un's doing.
"I thought you were crazy, but this is next level. Who thinks to increase their share? Kahahahaha!"
"You're the ones who followed. Don't blame me."
"But seriously. You sure?"
The War God spoke with a hint of concern.
This was no ordinary place—an A-Rank Demonus.
Humanity's calamity, a natural disaster that had terrorized the world since the Gate era began.
Not a single nation's disaster, but the world's.
Even GHO couldn't dream of clearing it—a hell no global Hunter agency dared approach.
Competing there against Yong-un gave even the War God pause for worry.
But Yong-un's expression didn't change at the War God's concerned tone. He declared confidently.
"We're fine. No idea about you lot, but we have nothing to worry about."
"Hmph."
The War God snorted.
Then he shrugged and said,
"Fair enough. Your team does look the part. Strong. But don't underestimate ours—we're not just strong; our experience is on another level."
"Twelve years, was it? Your team sweeping Gates worldwide without a break."
"Twelve years and six months. There's no guild in the world that doesn't know Vigore Guild. We've handled dozens of headache high-rank Gates."
Normally, Yong-un would have scoffed.
But the War God's confident expression brought back yesterday's sight of his Vigore Guild members.
Tough, solid guildmates.
Their cohesion screamed battle-hardened, even without seeing them fight.
They matched the War God's reputation.
"We'll see tomorrow."
"Kuhuhu, looking forward to it."
The War God and Yong-un shared a laugh, eyeing each other.
Then they felt the hot stares from around them and turned.
Perhaps because their talk had ended.
"Hello! Sir War God, Sir Yong-un."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Sampaiu from Brazil. I've been eager to meet you."
As if waiting, Hunters representing their nations crowded in.
The War God and Yong-un exchanged glances at the greetings and outstretched hands, their smiles fading.
"Here we go..."
Both knew this was the scripted follow-up.
Yong-un alone drew enough attention, but add the War God?
They might claim they came for Yong-un, but building ties with top-ranked Hunters? Invaluable for their nations.
"A gift from Brazil. Please accept."
"Specially airlifted from Russia..."
"A Canadian specialty..."
The onslaught poured like they'd prepared in advance.
Surrounded by leaders, Yong-un and the War God shared another smirk.
With the leaders' meeting over, they relayed the details to their teams.
Contributions assigned, now came the real preparation.
"Twenty-five percent."
Yong-un unfurled the map from Pamellino for all to see.
An overwhelming landmass compared to others, save Spain.
Yet Yong-un's forces showed no change in expression.
"Only up three percent."
"Three percent is still thousands of pyeong in land."
"What? That big? Isn't this the small patch here?"
At Jeong-won's surprised voice, Jin-cheol explained.
"San Marino's about one-tenth Seoul's size, with 610,000 square kilometers. Three percent rounds to around 20,000 square kilometers."
"Huh!?"
Jeong-won had thought three percent was no big deal—big mistake.
But seeing her apparent misconception, Jin-cheol corrected himself.
"Our job's weakening, not clearing, so the op zone's less than half. Three percent makes about 8,000 square kilometers."
"S-Still too huge, right?"
"Eight thousand's just fourteen Jamsil stadiums."
Jin-cheol shrugged.
Then, to Yong-un:
"Twenty-five percent means at least 1.2 million square kilometers for us to handle?"
"About that."
"Weeks, then."
Sword Tiger frowned at Jin-cheol's words.
"Weeks? Try months. Look at the size."
"No need for months. It's big, but per the branch's monster distribution, just a few hundred monsters and demons to handle."
Sword Tiger looked stunned at Jin-cheol's fact-based logic.
"For real?"
"Yes. Depends on demon numbers and any ranked ones, though."
Not every A-Rank Demonus infesting a nation teemed with tens of thousands of monsters and demons.
If all three worldwide Demonus were like that, the world would've ended long ago.
No superpower, not even America, could handle those hordes.
"Still, don't get complacent. Ranked demons in large numbers are why no A-Rank Demonus has been cleared."
"What? Then couldn't the U.S. or a few powers just swarm it and clear?"
Jin-cheol's expression soured at Sword Tiger's words.
"Sure. America alone could probably handle San Marino."
"Then why..."
"Fear of casualties."
Jin-cheol understood the major powers, despite the frustration.
One proper push from a superpower, and clear was inevitable.
But they held back for one reason.
The massive sacrifices that came with clearing.
"Even if they could, why risk it for another nation? Heavy losses could topple a superpower overnight."
Jin-cheol nodded firmly.
"That's the world government too—not superpower-exclusive. If it's not fire on their own feet, they stay out. Same with weakening ops. They're bailing floodwater only to save themselves from drowning."
Everyone fell thoughtful at Jin-cheol's words.
No cursing the powers—that distinction between could and should was key.
"Kinda bittersweet."
Venom Witch shook her head.
"Can't be helped. That's the way of the world. If this Demonus hit Korea, we'd clear it casualties be damned."
Jin-cheol nodded at Martial Dancer's words.
"That's why Demonus persist. Why we do weakening ops."
The mood grew somber.
Jin-cheol felt guilty for dampening it and glanced at Yong-un.
Yong-un broke his silence.
"As Jin-cheol said, we're not clearing. Just weakening. Keep that in mind."
"Yes, Supreme One."
The subordinates' voices were subdued.
Yong-un shouted at them all.
"You pity them?"
"Yeah... Supreme Bro, it's sad..."
Cheon-il whimpered in response.
Barum belatedly tried to cover his mouth, but the innocent words had already escaped.
Barum bowed guiltily.
Yong-un waved it off.
"Benevolence is a privilege for the truly strong. Can you claim that strength?"
They'd grown immensely in a year of secluded training.
Yet none dared affirm it before Yong-un.
Progress aside, how could they boast with the real deal right there?
"Can you swear you'd survive inside guaranteed?"
No answer again.
Even elite Hunters from powers met death there.
They'd fight to live, sure.
They could slaughter visible demons.
But the silence stemmed from one thing.
Gates' unpredictability.
How to claim certainty without knowing what monsters or demons lurked inside?
"If you can't answer that, you're not strong."
"Forgive us, Supreme One."
All bowed at his sharp rebuke.
"Feigned benevolence without true strength is arrogance, bravado. I despise that. So what will you do?"
"We'll stick to the plan. Return alive."
"We'll return alive!"
Perhaps realigned, their voices rose.
"Grow strong. Strong enough for true benevolence... strong enough for me to trust your backs. That's your task."
"Yes, Supreme One!"
Satisfied with the response, Yong-un relaxed.
"Not a solo op. Lone wolf actions endanger the team. This is war—lives on the line."
"Yes, Supreme One!"
Yong-un eyed Jin-cheol after speaking.
Jin-cheol caught the look, rose slowly, then bowed deeply again.
"Devise the plan. Myung-un stays with the Jang-gwi, factor that in."
"Then you, Supreme One...?"
"You handle this without me. I've got separate business."
"Understood, Supreme One. We'll finalize and report tomorrow morning."
Swoosh.
Yong-un stood.
He turned and vanished on the spot.
Just one day left until the A-Rank Demonus weakening operation.
An inexplicable tension hung over the GHO Italian branch.
"Kwaaaaaaang!!!"
The ceaseless roars—monster or demon unknown—kept the tension strung tight until the operation began.